Process and apparatus for removing adherent material from nodulizing-kilns.



F. B. BUTTON.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING ADHERENT MATERIAL FROM NODULIZINGKILNS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1914.

1 1 17 14 Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

I n s a j 529% \2 7 EENNS'R'LVANIA.

innn earns ran EEANCIS BIRD BUTTON, OF LEBANON, YEN NSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORTO THE PENNSYL- VAHLA STEEL CGMPANY, 0F LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION OF PROCESS All) APEARATUS FOR EEMOVING ADHERENT MATERIALFROM NODULIZING- KILNS.

animate.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Application filed August 20, 1914. Seria lNo. 857.666.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS Bran DUT- roN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lebanon, county of Lebanon, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful 1m rovement in Processesand Apparatus for emoving Adherent Material from Nodulizing-Kilns, ofwhich the followin is a full, clear, and exact description, re erencebeing had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part "of thisspecification.

To utilize fine iron ores, blue billy, flue dust, etc., in blastfurnaces, it is customary to first desulfurize the same and agglomeratethem into small lumps or nodules. This is efi'ected in a long rotaryinclined kiln, into the higher end of which the fine materials to as theapplication of water.

- of workmen then successively enter the kiln be treated are introducedand at the lower end of which heat is applied usually by means of thecombustion of powdered fuel. The slagging of the particles begins atsome distance from the lower or discharge end of the kiln, and along thezone of scorification refractory bands or rings form upon the interiorwall of the kiln. These ban 5 gradually increase in thickness until theyinterfere with the proper operation of the kiln. This necessitates thecessation of the nodulizing process and the removal of the cakedmaterial. While various time-saving and labor-saving expedients for theremoval of these rings have been proposed, it is still customary toproceed by first allowing the interior of the kiln to cool down, thecooling being facilitated by special means such Several shifts and bymanual power remove the caked material. This operation necessitates thecessation of the nodulizing operation for approximately twenty-fourhours and involves considerable labor expense as well as some waste offuel arising from the dissipation of heat in the cooling process.

The object of my invention is to expedite the removal of the rin and toefiect their removal without allowing the kiln to cool to a substantialdegree and to dispense entirely with the necessity of the directapplication of manual labor to the rings.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings,

which show a preferred means of carrying out my improved process, and inwhich- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower part ofthe nodulizing kiln. Fig. 2 is a partial cross section on the line 2- 2of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view. Fig. 4 is a side elevationof part of the ipe system.

T e rotary nodulizing kiln a is provided at the higher end (not shown)with suitable means for the introduction of the fine ores and at thelower end with a pipe I) for the pulverized fuel and a blast pipe'c forcompressed air. Any efi'eotive means for chargmg the ore and supplyingheat may be adopted, as my invention is not concerned therewith.

The shell of the kiln is provided with one or more rows of orifices (2each orifice extendin in a radial direction and each row of oricesextending longitudinally, or parallel to the axis of the retort.

Outside the shell are one or more longitudinally extending pipes orheaders e provided at intervals with branch pipes f carrying Ts orcrosses h. A stop cock 9 is applied to each pipe 1. The Ts or crosses72. have radial openings in line with the respective orifices. Pipes 2'extend from the Ts or crosses h inward to, and preferably through, theorifices d. Thus the piping system may be permanently connected with thekiln and revolve with it during the nodulizing operation. I prefer toinsert removable plugs 7' through the Ts or crosses h and the pipes i soas to prevent any material entering the pipes from within the kiln.

11 case several rows of orificesd are provided, there may be a separateheader e for each row; or the Ts or crosses may be connected by means ofpipes m with other Ts or crosses h which are in turn connected withpipes 71 engaging orifi'ces d of another longitudinal row of orifices.

The plugs j are shown as screw-threaded in the "l s or crosses h, andthreaded caps or stoppers k are provided with are applied to the P3 orcrosses after the plugs are removed preparatory to the cleaningoperation. Any other convenient means of stopping'u the holes in thekiln wall may be adopte and if removable plugs "are ememployed, I mayoutside openings leftin the pipe system by the removal of the plugs maybe adopted; my invention not depending for its successful operation uponspecific details of construction.

; After the vring or has developed thickness which necessitates itsremoval, the rotation of the kiln is stopped, the plugs j are with-'drawn, the caps is are applied andtheopen end of the header 6 isconnected with a hose, which is in turn connected with a water supply. Iprefer to open only one of the valves 9 at a time; or if'severa-l seriesof pipes i are 'open all the several valves 9 controlling the flow ofwater to 'a'ny'given circumferential row of orifices d. The water shouldbe applied under considerable pres-1 sure. I have found that 100 poundsto the square inch is efiicacious, although the effective pressure mayvary within considerable limits. The forcible application of water'chanical' force of the water and the explosive effect of the steam, thematerial forming the ring section is almost instantly. broken up anddislodged from the kiln wall.

lVhile the effect. roduced solely by the mechanical force 0 the water is"of importance, i't' will be noted that the conditions are ideal for themost efi'ectiye utilization of the expansion force 'of the steam. Thereis no escape for the steam sidewise through any previously dislodgedpart of the ring, and thus the lines of least resistance are necessarilyagainst. the solid mass of material that adheres to the kiln ,wall'.Again, the intervals of time between the several'applications of waterat different distances from the mouth of the kiln nee li be. very shortindeed, and all partsof the iln upon-which itmay be desired to actareieached inso short a time after the beginning of the ringdestroyingoperation that .the drop in the temperature of the interior of the kilnis .very slight, and in all cases the temperature is suflicient toinsure the rapid generation of steam which'is desired. Again, allpar tsof. the kiln maybe reached with equal conveniencethat part of the-nakedmaterial that may be distant (say) as much as thirty feet from the mouthof the kiln being as readily dislodged and removed asthefportion of theringnearest the'jmouth, o kiln. The whole'operation,indeed, need requireno more'than a few minutes. f After; h inte or; f. he. l W ll-Hislean-ea, the hose is disconnected," the' caps k "1 'Having now fullyters'P-atent is: l

the

resumed without the expenditure of fuel that wo'u'ld'be required to heatthe interior of the kiln from atmospheric temperature to the necessarytemperature for nodulization. I described my invention, what I claim anddesireto protect by Let- 1. The process of removing adherent materialfrom the interior wall-of a noduliz ing kiln, which consists inintroducing water under pressure against the adherent material throughthe part of the wall'bovered thereby. 4 2. The process of removingadherent material from the inner wall of a nodulizin'g kiln, whichconsists in conveying water while the kiln is in a highly heate tionagainst the adherent material through the part of the 'kiln walY'coveredthereby 3; The process of removing adherent material from the interior'wall of a' nodulizing kiln, which consists in applying water underpressure between the inner face of the kiln wall and the material to bedis lodged within a closed space having no coin be. immediately cOIldl Imunication with the opeii interior of the v kiln.

4. The process of removing adherent material from the interior wall of anoduliz ing kiln, which consists in generatingsteam withina space.adj'acent to the inner facepf the kiln wall and wholly closed fromconimunication with theopen interior of the kiln by the material tobe'dislod ed. v

5. The process I tei'ial from the interior wall of a'nodulip ing kiln,which consists in convfeying water under .pressure,"wliile the kiln isina highly heated condition, to a space adjacent to the kiln wall andwholly closed'from communication with the open interior of the. kiln bythe material to be dislodged, thereby causing the same to' bedisintegrated .y the mechanical force of the water and the explosiveforce of steam generated by the water thus applied.

;6. The process of hei'ent material from the (inner wall of anoduliz'ing kiln,'which consists in introducing water under pre sure ata point adjoining the inner face oi he kiln wall'entrrel surrounded by amechanically undistnrbe mass of the materialto' be dislodged;

of removingva herent ma;

removing masses" of ad- 7; lhe process of removihg masses of adof thekiln.

between the kiln Wall and the material to be dislodged simultaneously ata plurality of points in the same circumference of the kiln.

9. The process of removlng adherent material from the interior wall of anodulizing kiln, which consists in introducing water against theadherent material successively at a number-of points in the length ofthe kiln through parts of the kiln wall covered by such mat rial.

10. A nodulizing kiln having a passage extending through its wall incombination with means to introduce water through said passage againstmaterial adhering to the inner surface of the kiln wall.

11. A nodulizing kiln having a passage extending through and opening atthe inner face of its wall, in combination with means to introduce waterthrough said passage against material adhering to the inner surface ofthe kiln Wall, and means to maintain said passage closed during thenodulizing operation.

12. A nodulizing kiln in combination with a water supply pipe affordingcommunication from the exterior of the kiln through the wall thereof tothe interior of the kiln adjacent to the inner surface of said wall.

13. A nodulizing kiln in combination with a series of Water supply pipesaffording the wall thereof to the interior of the kiln through the wallthereof to the interior of the kiln adjacent to the inner surface ofsaid wall, the discharge ends of said pipes being arranged at differentpoints along the length 14. A nodulizing kiln in combination withplurality of water supply pipes affording communication from theexterior of the kiln through the wall thereof to the interior of thekiln adjacent to the inner surface of said wall, the discharge ends ofsaid pipes being arranged at difierentpoints in the same circumferenceof the 16111.

15. A nodulizing kiln having orifices ex tending entirely through itswall in combination with water-supply pipes engaging said orifices andextending to theexterior of the kiln.

16. A nodulizing kiln having orifices extending entirelv throu h itswall, in combination with a header a apted for connection with a sourceof water supply and extending longitudinally of and exterior to thekiln, and pipe connections therefrom to the several orifices.

17. A nodulizing kiln having orifices extending entirely through itswall, in combination witha header adapted for connection with a sourceof water supply and extending longitudinally of and exteriorly to thekiln, branch pipes extending therefrom, Ts connected to the branchpipes, and discharge pipes extending from said Ts to the orifices insaid wall.

18. A nodulizing kiln having orifices extending entirely through itswall in combination with a header adapted for connection with a sourceof water supply and extending longitudinally of and exteriorly to thekiln, branch pipes extending therefrom, Ts

connected to the branch pipes, discharge pipes extending from said Ts tothe orifices in said wall, and removable plugs extendin through said Tsand adapted to close sai discharge=pipes during the nodulizingoperation.

19. A nodulizing kiln having orifices extending entirely throu h itswall incombination with a header a apted for connection with a source ofwater supply and extending longitudinally of and exteriorly to the kiln,branch pipes extending therefrom, Ts connected to the branch pipes,discharge pipes extending from said Ts to the orifices in said wall,removable plugs extendin through said Ts and adapted to close saisdischarge pipes during the nodulizing operation, and removable stoppersadapted to engage said Ts upon the removal of said plugs.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, atLebanon, on this 18 day of August, 1914.

FRANCIS BIRD DUTTON. Witnesses:

D. W. HAIN, F. J. Bonner.

